Lung Cancer Surgeries

Surgery is the most radical, invasive type of lung cancer treatment. It calls for the removal of part of the lung, the lobe of the lung, or the entire lung, depending on how advanced a patient's case of lung cancer or lung disease.

Resections

In the case of non-aggressive lung cancer that is in its early stages, an attending physician removes just the parts of the lung that are infested with cancer. Often, this ../includes only small, wedge-like sections, called resections, that are riddled with tumors. Most patients are in strong enough health to undergo this procedure and recover in a few weeks' time.

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Lobectomy

The lungs are divided into several lobes, three of which are on the right (upper, middle, and lower), and two of which are on the left (upper and lower). In the cases of more invasive lung cancer, a lobectomy, or removal of an entire lobe of the lung, may be performed; just one lobe is removed. This procedure is typically more effective in such cases than resectioning because it removes microscopic cancer cells that may be hiding in the lobes.

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Pneumonectomy

In cases of very advanced lung cancer, the entire lung is removed in a procedure called a pneumonectomy. If a tumor is spread across more than one lobe, a pneumonectomy is the only way to rid the body of all cancer. This procedure is quite dangerous, and many patients require a lung transplant.

Side effects of all types of surgery include pain and weakness in the chest, shortness of breath, risk of infection, and depleted energy and strength.

It is important to note that surgery is not for everyone-some lung cancer tumors are inoperable, some patients are too weak for surgery, and some cancer locations might be difficult for a surgeon to reach.

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